1. Begin with a GMCT deceased search
The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust manages 19 cemeteries and memorial parks in Melbourne, and our online deceased search or interactive mapping system allows you to find the specific location of a grave or cremation memorial, or whether a person’s ashes were scattered at one of our sites.
Our deceased search and mapping system includes interment and cremation records for all the cemeteries and memorial parks we look after, with the exception of Northcote Cemetery. Searches can be conducted using different combinations of available information such as first name, family name and cemetery location.
Our interactive mapping system displays available information and provides a detailed map indicating the specific location of the interment (where applicable).
TIP: If you are unsure where a relative is buried, search ‘all cemeteries’ in the first instance. Try alternate spellings, and consider that the names of cemeteries may have changed over time.
2. Search online databases
There are a number of online databases that make historical records available to the general public, including:
The Public Records Office of Victoria (PROV) provides historic census data which includes useful information regarding place of residence
The Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages is a state-based register of birth, death and marriage records
Trove is an online database including historic Australian newspapers, hosted by the National Library of Australia
The Ryerson Index is a free database of death and funeral notices from Australia.
War service records are available from the Australian War Memorial and the National Archives of Australia
3. Try complementary sources
In addition to public databases, a number of complementary resources are available online, including:
Community-led cemetery websites
Subscription-based genealogy and family history websites
Local historical societies, councils and local history museums
Local libraries, the State Library of Victoria and the National Library of Australia
Heritage organisations such as the National Trust and Heritage Victoria
4. Find out more
Get in touch with your local cemetery’s friends group via our website, or contact us if you require additional assistance regarding your family history research.